Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The Legislature finds
and declares that the practice of the drilling technique of hydraulic
fracturing for natural gas exploration and production has been found to use a
variety of contaminating chemicals and materials that can suddenly and in an
uncontrolled manner be introduced into the surface waters and ground water of
the State; that the companies engaging in the use of this drilling technique
have been less than forthcoming in revealing the “cocktail” of chemicals and
their volume that can be introduced into these waters; that in June 2010, there
occurred an incident of an uncontrolled release of many gallons of contaminated
water and natural gas from a hydraulic fracturing drill site in Clearfield
County, Pennsylvania, and other such accidents are likely to occur; and that
other states, including New Jersey’s neighbor, New York, are considering
banning the drilling technique.

The Legislature therefore
determines it is prudent and in the best interest of the people of the State of
New Jersey to prohibit hydraulic fracturing in the State for the purpose of
natural gas exploration or production.

2. a. No person may use
the drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing in the State for the
purpose of natural gas exploration or production.

b. As used in this act,
“hydraulic fracturing” means the drilling technique of expanding existing
fractures or creating new fractures in rock by injecting water, often with
chemicals, sand, or other substances, and often under pressure, into or
underneath the surface of the rock for purposes including, but not necessarily
limited to, well drilling and natural gas exploration and production. The term
“hydraulic fracturing” shall include “fracking,” “hydrofracking,” “hydrofracturing,”
and other colloquial terms for this drilling technique.

3. This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill prohibits hydraulic
fracturing (“hydrofracking”) in the State for the purpose of natural gas
exploration or production. The bill defines “hydraulic fracturing” as the
drilling technique of expanding existing fractures or creating new fractures in
rock by injecting water and chemicals, sand, or other substances under pressure
into or underneath the surface of the rock for the purpose of well drilling or
natural gas exploration. It includes “fracking,” “hydrofracking,”
“hydrofracturing,” and other colloquial terms for this drilling technique.